Improvement in envelope-machines



` lmprvnientl'in Envelope-Machines. f N0 115,3 31" y Parentedmay 30,1871.

W v 5 Sheets--Sheet 2. H. D. SWIFT & D. W. SWIFT.

W rlur'nprov-eme'nt -n Envelope-Machines.- ,l NQ. 115,381," PatentedMay 30,1871.

` ssheets--sheefv H. DjSWlFTL D. W. SWIFT.

Improvement .in Envelope-Machines.

No. 115,381,` Patented May 30,1871.

H; n. SWIFT L D. w. SWIFT; `Improvementifn Envelo'peaMachines.

vNo. "135.381, Patented May 30,1871,

4u. PNara-ur/losMr/flc m MY. {asso/mrs f/wcfss) top view of the same.

` "UNHEDSTATES l ETEET QEEICE.

` HENRY D. SWIET `Ann DANIEL SWIET, oE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

"IMPROVEMENT IN ENvELoPjE-MACHINES.

`To allkwltom t mayiconccrm Beit knownthat we, HENRY D. SWIFT an `DILNIEL W. SwIET,of Worcester, in the coun-` ty of`Woroester and State of Massachusetts,

i have invented a new andImproved Machine j for Gumming Envelopes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

` exact `description there of,lwhich will enable `others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingforming partof this specification. "This invention relates toa newmachine forv j gumming the sealing-ilaps of envelope-blanks i in' rapid succession, andin such precise manner asto Ainsure ,perfccthaccuracy throughout the 1 operation of" gummin g, conveying,l and `drying the blanks. `The invention consists in the applicationof intermediate supports for the blanks which sustain thelatter while the main support islmoving downto be gummed; 1 also, in the connection ofthe impelling mech anism with suchintermediate support, the said mechanism operating to alternately raise and 'j lower the supporttofacilitate the removal of the same fromnnderand its insertion between the lowermost blank and those above. The

invention consists, further, inthe use of a w smallstop for sustaining` the Sealing-aps during the several motions 'of the 4saidsupports,and in the'application to the machine of an oscillatingblade, which is thrown between the blanks to sustainthe upwardpress- 1 ure of thegummer. The invention also consists in the use of self-acting tweezers for withv drawing the gummed blanks from the supports and depositing the same in proper suc-v cession upon the feed-aprons" Furthermore,

the invention consists of` various details of arran gement, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

` In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents aside elevation ofour improved gum! ming anddrying machine. Fig. 2 is a `plan or i Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section of the same, the line a: as in Fig. 2 indicating theplane of section. Fig..4 is a detail` vertical section on the same plane as Fig. 3,sho`wing certain parts in different positions.

Fig. isa horizontal section of the lmachine,thex1ine.yy in Fig. 3 indicating the` .plane of section. Fig..6` is a vertical transverse .sectionof the same, the line ze in Fig. 3 indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

`A inthe drawing represents the frame-work of our improved machine, said frame-work being made of metal, wood, or both, of such suit- Lable form and dimensions as to sustain the workingparts of the machine in the most prolitable manner. In the lower part of the frame A is hung transversely the drivingshaft B, which receives rotary motion, by

means of a belt or otherwise, from suitable mechanlsm, and serves to impart motion to allvtlie movable mechanism of our machine. C is a metal plate `or bed, shaped soas to constitute a support for the middle portions of envelope-blanks, it being provided with projecting flanges a at one side for properly and steadily retaining such blanks in position. This `plate or bed O is secured upon a crossbar, b, which has its. ends fittedupon uprights or posts c c, on which it can slide up and down. A vertical arm, d, projects downward from the cross-bar b, and is connected with a cam, e, on `the shaft B, Wherebyfsaid cross-bar, together `with its plate or bed O, receives reciprocating motion in a vertical direction. From thecrossbar b, near the ends of the same, project also small tablets f f, which serve to sustain the ends of the envelope-blanks. The plate C may be made removable from the cross-bar, and the tablets adj ustable thereon, to permit the adaptationl of the machine to differentsized blanks. To the front part of the Aplate G is pivoted a plate, D, which is provided with a V-shaped projecting-rib constituting `the gumming-pad. By means of a rod or arm, g, the plate D is connected with a cam, h, of the shaft B, and is, by the same, alternately swung down to receive the gum, as in Fig. 3, and up, as in Fig. 4.-, to apply the same.

that they may be steadily fed down if successively removed from below. The pins ij may be made adjustable. F is the gum-trough or receptacle, fixed'transversely to the frame A. Within it is placed a roller, K, which is r0- tated by means of a belt, l, from the shaft B, duly scraped by a scraper, m, and thereby always prepared to transfer gum to the gumming-roller G. The ends of the roller Gr are hung in thimbles n a, which are held in forked arms o o of an oscillating frame, H, that turns on a transverse pivot, p, and is actuated by a cam, q, on the shaft B. The thimbles 'n are attened where they lt the forks o, so that they may slide but not revolve therein. The oscillating motion of the frame H carries the roller G from the roller k to the gumming-pad D, its extremes of position being respectively shown in Figs. et and 3, the latter figure showing it somewhat rolled back from the upper part of D. During this motion the roller Gr moves over S-shaped guidefmgers r r, and is held onto the same by guide-springs s s, shown in Fig. 3. Vhile in contact with the roller 7a, the

roller G is revolved by the same to have its surface evenly gummed. Its motion over the fingers r and along the springs s causes it to rotate on its own axis while traveling from 7c to D. It reaches the latter plate when the same is swung down, as in Fig. 3, and moves over the projecting rib, covering the same with gum, and rolling, while in contact with said rib, to evenly apply the gum. It will be seen that the thimbles slide in the forkso during the vibration of the frame H, and do not interfere with the rotation of the roller G; also,

that the sliding motion of said thimbles is caused by the formation of the fingers r. I is a horizontal plate, which is made slightly adjustable in a Vertical direction, being supported by a cam, t, of the shaft B. The plate I is arranged above the gum-trough, but lower' than the frame E, as shown. It is supported by the upright posts c c, 011 which the cross bar b slides loose, and which are connected by a cross-bar, c, whence an arm, w, extends downward to the cam t. The vertical reciprocating motion imparted to the plate I by means of the cam tis very slight, being merely intended to clear one thickness of paper, as hereinafter more clearly set forth, although it opens nearly an inch. J J is a pair of horizontal tongs, or rather tong-shaped plates. The same are, by means of pins :o pivoted to the slide y, which moves longitudinally between a pair of parallel rails, z z, which is afxed to the plate I. The slide y receives reciprocating motion in a longitudinal direction by means of a jointed elbow-lever, K, which is oscillated by a cam, al, on the shaft B. The front or inner ends of the tongs or plates J are, by a spring or springs, b1, drawn together, as in Fig. 2, whenever the said plates are drawn back. The outer ends of the tongs or plates J, which are bent a 1 are held in contact with the edges of frict1on-rollers c1 c1 that are affixed to the back part of the plate I. When the slide y is moved forward with the tongs J, as in Fig. 5, the rear ends of said tongs will be forced toward each other by the rollers ci, so that their front or inner ends are spread apart. When the tongs are thus spread apart, as in Fig. 5, the plate I is at first in its most elevated position, as is also the bed C, in which position the tongs J are slightly above the level of the bed C, as in Fig. 4. But while the tongs are still spread and forward, the bed C is drawn down to have its portion D gummed, (see Fig. 3,) and then moved up again. The plate I is next lowered to bring the surfaces of the plates J on a level with the bed C, and in this lowered position the tongs are drawn back and contracted. When the tongs are back, as in Fig. 2, they are lowered. Thus they are also pushed forward and radually elevated while bein g'spread apart. L is a pair of tweezers, arranged in front of the bed C. The upper arm or jaw all of said tweezers is rigidly affixed to a cross-bar, el, which is secured between two upright pivoted levers, f1, which receive oscillating motion by a cam, g1, on the shaft B, and by springs h1. The crossbar el is pivoted in the levers f1, and carries a projecting arm, il, which rests with its end on a horizontal table, j', being held down on the same by its weight and that of the tweezers. By the arm sliding on the table j' the upper jaw of the tweezers is constantly held in a horizontal position, while the levers f1 swing on their pivot la. The lower jaw l of the tweezers is so pivoted to the cross-bar e1 that it can swing independently on the same. It has afiixed to it an upwardly and inwardly projecting frame, m', which has an inner cross-piece, n', and another cross-piece, o', at its front end. A spring-catch, p', is pivoted to ears which project from the upper jaw. A spring, q', tends to draw the jaw closed. When the tweezers are moved inwardly toward the bed C the rear end of the spring-catch p strikes a stop, rf, which is suspended from the frame E, and causes said catch to release the pin c of the movable jaw. The tweezers are then closed by the spring q', and move outward in such closed position until the cross-piece n of the frame m strikes another stop, s', of the frame A. This causes the lower jaw to swin g open, and the spring-catch to snap over the pin o', whereby the tweezers are retained open. In such open position the tweezers move back again toward the bed C, to be there closed, as aforesaid. Mis apair of endless aprons, which is placed over a series of rollers and pulleys, t t', and also around a large drum, N, at the front end of the machine. One set of pulleys, t', receives a slow rotation yby worm-gear and belt a from the shaft B, so that the aprons move 'slowly but continuously with their lower part toward and around the drum N, with their upper parts away from the same. Under the tweezers L the aprons are straigl1t,as shown. O is a roller, hung to a rocking frame, l?, which is pivoted to a part of the frame A above the tweezers l L. The frame P is, by means of links t', connected with a lever, fw', which is vibrated by a cam, w', of the shaft B and by a spring, y. The motionthus impart i `line between the same.

l ed ,to the frame Pcausesthe same to swing the roller O down upon the aprons M, and a roller, i2, under the same, whenever the tweezers L are moving away from the bed C, asin Fig. 4t, andto elevate saidroller clear of aprons and tweezers `whenever thelatter move to ward the bed C, as in Flig. From the frame i r VE is suspended an arm, z', which is provided o a spring, c2, so turnedas to hold the blade R `vertically in line with and above the gummer* D. But about ,onceduring every six `revolutionsof the shaft B' a stop,.d2, on a wheel, e2, which gears into a pinion, g2, on the shaft B, strikes an` arm, f2, of the pivot b2, and turns i o the same,carryingthe blade R clear of the en- V o velope space.

Immediately `after this the .l blade is again thrown forward by the spring far@ c2. Thepivot b2 is vertically adjustable in its bearings,`bein g held down by a spring,rh2, and is, therefore, togetheiwith the blade B, yielding to pre 'ure from below. Directly ba'ck of flltheidruin is `secured to the frame A a cradle, T, under the apronsM, as shown, so that all matter carried around said Vdrum will be dropped into the cradle, the drum revolving` in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. o It is evident that the cams, gear-Wheels, belts, and springs herein speciiied as moving ymechanisms may be varied in their arrangements and substituted-by equivalents readily The operation ofu devised. v v u the machine is as follows:

` The envelope-blanks,properly cut, are, in con-f siderablenumbers, placed upon the platform or bed C, when the same is elevated, the blade R being withdrawn, and alsothe` tongs J. The

machine bein ginow s etin motion byrevolvin g theshaft B, thelirst movementwill be that of theblade R, whichis thrown into the heap of envelopes, so' as to be between those immedidiately on C and the upper bulk. The object of the blade Bis to receive the pressure from below of the gumming-pad. Being made verticany yieidingby means ofthe springs h2, the

blade will always fit its purpose, even if there flare more or less blanks between it and the gummer. After, say, six Vblanks have fbeen in the way of the gummed portions.

gummed, the blade Ris swung out, and immediately thrown back into the pile of blanks,

` to re-enter the same above those blanks where it was last, andin this manner it is always au- .v tomatically adjusted to its proper place. Supposing the surfaceof the gummerD to be cov- 4eredwith gum, the'next movement is that the said gummer will be turned obliquely downward on itspivot, so that it will, by means of its adhesive coating, draw the flap ofthe lowermost blank slightly downzwith it. At the i' Same time the united tongs J will, in their lower position, move ahead, and enter between the saidlowermost blank and pile of blanks above, and will then gradually spread and become elevated, so as to relieve the bed C of the load of blanks, supporting the same in its stead. At the same time also, and before the bed C commences to descend, the tweezers L have moved toward it, and have grasped the blank, which'is already isolated from the others by the elevated tongs J. The bed C now desends, andthe tweezers move oii with the gummed blank.` The whole lot of ungummed blanks now rests on the spread .tongs J, and

i all part-s are in the position shown in Figs. 3

and 5. rEhe gumming-roller G moves now over theface of the gummer D. The next movelit of the machine re-elevates the bed C,

""and when the same is nearly up to the blanks,

the plate D is swung up 011 its'pivot to gum the under side of the iiap of the lower blank, and to cause the same to adhere to it.- The tongs are now withdrawn, and gradually lowered to gently deposit all blanks upon thebed Cbfore they move off. The plate D is next swung down to draw down the gummed ilap and provide an entrance for the closed tongs J between the lower blank and those above. While the gummer draws down the gummed ap, the corresponding flaps of the upper blanks are supported by the shoulder a2, which prevents the gummer from drawing more than one blank. rlhe tongs now enter betweenthe lower blankand those above, separating said lower blank, raising the others oil' so as to enable the tweezers to take the one prepared,

and all parts to repeat the stated operation.`

The tweezers carry each blank they take ahead to the full end of the stroke of the frame f1,- when they are quite forward the roller O is car! ried down upon the aprons, and clamps the blank against the roller i2, retaining it mom entarily while the tweezers open. llhe blank is now fairly deposited on the aprons, and is,by the same, slowly carried around the drum N to dry the gum on its sealin g-ilap by exposure to the air.

The tweezers move again toward the bed C for taking the next blank, the roller O lyin g up immediately after it came down.

Thedryin g apparatus herein described ,which also acts as a con'veyer for depositing the lin ished blanks in the cradle T, may also be used on other machinery, such as printing-presses, 85o., to convey paper from the machinery to any desired place.

The aprons M are far enough apart not to be The drum N has a projecting rib in the middle of its edge to cause the gummed iiap to bulge out and be exposedto the air.

The points of the tongs J have runners on their under sides, so that they will readily pass between and separate the proper blanks.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as neur and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The vibrating blade R, arranged on an .envelope-gumming machine, as described, to constitute a divider for the envelopes, and a resistance-plate for the gummer, as set forth.

2. The arm z, carrying the shoulder a2, arranged, in combination with the bed C and swinging gummer D, for holding the edges of the ungummed blanks, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The tongs J, made vertically adjustable to lift the blanks off and replace them on the bed C, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The rollers c1 c1, for spreading and the spring bl for closing the tongs J, combined, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The reciprocating slide y, combined with pivoted tongs J, rollers c1, and springs b1, substantially as herein specified.

6. The stop d2 on the wheel e2, combined with the blade R for moving the same at in tervals, substantially as herein shown and described.

7. The blade R. applied to the vertically-adjustable pin b2, to be made yielding, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. The fingers r and springs s, combined with the revolving gumming-roller G, substantially asl and for the purpose herein shown and described.

`9. The vibrating glimmer D, combined with the reciprocating bed C and gumrning-roller G, al1 arranged to operate together as specified. l0. The conveying tweezers L, connected with the guide-arm il and table j', to be held in proper direction, as speciied.

l1. The frame m', spring-catch p', and spring q', combined with the 'jaws d1 and Z of the tweezers L, to operate the same, substantially as herein shown and described.

l2. The roller O on the vibrating frame I?, arranged, in connection with the aprons M and tweezers L, to retain the blanks on the aprons, substantially as herein shown and described.

HENRY D. SWIFT. DANIEL W. SWIFT.

Witnesses JAMES H. WALLS, J. HENRY HILL. 

